Jason

Are you people forgetting that this these guys are still some of the youngest players in the league? Does anyone remember that many people thought Michael Jordan was a flop in his first few seasons? Or how about the fact that it took both Jordan and Drexler about 7-years before making it to the Finals? Your expectations are way too high for this team. Give them a break. Chemistry is important in any sport, and when you have players missing over 300 games in a season, what do you expect? Phoenix double-teamed LA virtually the whole series, because they didn't have to worry about Roy. And, unfortunately, even when he came back, he wasn't much of a threat due to his knee operation and being out of game shape. Maybe you should play in LA's place and get double-teamed an entire game and see how affective you can be.

If the Blazers stay healthy and keep a good core of guys around, they will have a chance to compete for many years to come. Personally, I think it will still be another year or two before they will be good enough to have a chance at the Finals. If you look at all the teams that have won championships in the past, they were together for many years and suffered through difficult seasons, and early exits in the playoffs. I think some of you need to come back to reality.

Are you people forgetting that this these guys are still some of the youngest players in the league? Does anyone remember that many people thought Michael Jordan was a flop in his first few seasons? Or how about the fact that it took both Jordan and Drexler about 7-years before making it to the Finals? Your expectations are way too high for this team. Give them a break. Chemistry is important in any sport, and when you have players missing over 300 games in a season, what do you expect? Phoenix double-teamed LA virtually the whole series, because they didn't have to worry about Roy. And, unfortunately, even when he came back, he wasn't much of a threat due to his knee operation and being out of game shape. Maybe you should play in LA's place and get double-teamed an entire game and see how affective you can be.

If the Blazers stay healthy and keep a good core of guys around, they will have a chance to compete for many years to come. Personally, I think it will still be another year or two before they will be good enough to have a chance at the Finals. If you look at all the teams that have won championships in the past, they were together for many years and suffered through difficult seasons, and early exits in the playoffs. I think some of you need to come back to reality.

Obviously, you haven't been in many board meetings or high-level business meetings. I've seen tempers flare and objects thrown. If you think professional sports is the only place that happens, you're seriously mistaken.

And most guys typically understand and relate to that kind of outburst. I think it was exactly what this team needed.

It's laughable to me how much you all think you know about basketball, this team, or Nate. How many of you have been NBA coaches? How many of you have played in the NBA? Just knowing basketball or understanding it well doesn't mean you know squat about what's going on.

I guarantee you that if the Blazers had no injuries this year they'd be second, or at least third in the Western Conference. They have no big men to play the rim on defense, rebound, or get easy baskets; their leading scorer and team leader has been out for 13 games. And it's going to take Batum and Rudy a while to get back in the swing of things. Oh, and Outlaw, how was clutch in the 4th quarters so many times last year is gone.

Do you people not realize that between Howard, Pendergraph, Cunningham, Miller and Bayless, and that these guys either weren't on the team or didn't play meaningful minutes? This is a major adjustment throwing guys in that need to learn a system, or have little to no NBA experience.

My guess is they'll end up in the 7th of 8th playoff spot and probably lose in the 1st or 2nd round. You don't go through these many injuries and get too far. This is still the 2nd youngest team in the NBA. They have a lot of potential, and still some growing-up to do. Give these guys a break. Be patient. It took Clyde Drexler 7 years before he made it deep into the playoffs and into the Finals.